Families Hear Gene Secrets

Children's Hospital Boston, breaking with scientific convention, has designed a new genetic research project so information gleaned from DNA submitted by patients and their families can benefit not only science, but potentially participants themselves.

No decisions have been made on what will be passed on to families, but research has already identified genes associated with conditions such as autism, diabetes and obesity. Families who learn they are at genetic risk might seek medical intervention sooner. Others may adopt...